Needing advice for higher education?
Hi everyone!
I’m writing to ask for advice on how to move forward with my future, which I partly threw away due to naivety.
I’m a 25-year-old woman with a bachelor’s degree in a non-STEM field that I absolutely hated and only finished for the sake of having the degree. This heavily impacted my mental health until recently, and only now am I finally able to study and learn effectively again. I graduated from a scientific high school (liceo scientifico) with very good grades.
Right now, I’m trying to get into a Master’s program in Data Science. I’ve already audited/followed the first-year courses, so I know what to expect. The Master’s is designed for people from diverse backgrounds, and I’ve noticed that while it provides solid and up-to-date tools, it falls a bit short on developing the right critical thinking skills.
What I truly love doing is solving complex problems and having an impeccable mind in terms of logic and speed, and this Master’s degree doesn't offer exactly that. Moving to more abstract levels is very difficult without strong foundations.
So, I’m considering starting a Bachelor’s degree, specifically in Mathematics, alongside the Master’s in Data Science (where the exams mostly consist of hands-on coding and projects).
I know it’s a bold choice, but I can’t imagine a life without doing what I actually want to do and without a solid education that prevents me from feeling like an impostor.
The alternative is to just push through with the Data Science Master’s, obviously aiming for the best and choosing rigorous electives, but always carrying this impostor syndrome. Plus, candidates with a STEM Bachelor's will always be favored and more skilled.
Can anyone give me a more complete, big-picture perspective on this? Thanks!